Tallahassee, Florida
You have many options when you are ready to purchase a new Vehicle in the capital city of Tallahassee, Florida. Many quality options might catch your eye and provide a more reasonable price. However, whenever it is financially feasible, most people will opt to buy new to enjoy the factory warranty, years of trouble-free ownership, and the ability to protect the vehicle’s value with diligent maintenance and care. But what can you do when you have invested your hard-earned money in a new car, truck, or SUV only to discover that the car you bought is not delivering the quality you expected?
Few things are more dissatisfying than taking on a five-year or longer loan on a new vehicle only to discover it is nothing but trouble from almost the day you drive it home. The check engine light illuminates, the brakes make an awful sound, or suddenly, the steering wheel is unsteady in your hands. You think that you are happy you have that factory warranty to correct the issue for free as you drive back to the dealership to have the car repaired. In a perfect world, that is the end of the problems. However, if you have a lemon, your troubles could just be starting.
As the owner of a new vehicle that is constantly having issues or you are finding defects in the workmanship, please understand that there are limits to what the manufacturer can expect you to tolerate. But they are not going to tell you what those limits might be. Instead, you need to reach out to Jonathan Schwartz, the Leading Lemon Law Lawyer in Tallahassee. With decades of expertise in resolving Florida Lemon Law issues for clients, he and his team will provide the information you need to know when you have reached your limit in patience with an unreliable new vehicle.
When Is A Vehicle Considered A Florida Lemon?
There are several criteria that a new car, truck, or SUV must meet to be considered a lemon in Florida. You can get a better idea of the requirements by reviewing these factors to see if your car could be a lemon:
- Is the car less than 24 months old, and does it have less than 24,000 miles that were logged before the vehicle was purchased or leased from the dealership?
- Was the vehicle sold to you as a new car or a demonstrator model?
- Are the defects that are plaguing the vehicle have an impact on its value, safety, or function?
- Have you been unable to drive the vehicle for a total of 30 days when it was in the repair center or out of service?
- Did you take the car back to the dealership’s service department or a factory-authorized shop for repairs of the same issue three or more times, and is it still not resolved?
If your answer was yes to all these questions, it is time to contact Jonathan Schwartz and his team to discuss having your vehicle declared a lemon and getting you a new car or selling this one back to the manufacturer so you do not lose money on this lemon.
Get help with your lemon roadmap to compensation
Step 1: Start with a Free Case Review
Send us your vehicle details like the make, model, year, and what problems you’ve been dealing with. We’ll review everything and let you know if it qualifies under the Lemon Law.
Step 2: We Handle the Legal Work
If your vehicle qualifies, we take it from there. Our team prepares the paperwork, files the claim, and deals directly with the manufacturer. You don’t pay us. The manufacturer does.
Step 3: Turn in Your Lemon and Get Compensated
Once the case is approved, you’ll return your defective vehicle and get a refund, a replacement, or a cash settlement. We’ll help you figure out the best option for you.
30 Seconds Lemon Quiz
Are All New Vehicles Subject To The Florida Lemon Law?
When you are thinking about purchasing a new car, you likely never base the purchase on which models are covered under the Florida Lemon Law until you have purchased a lemon and used this valuable process. It is wise to understand which new vehicles might not be covered under the Lemon Law when making future purchases. Buyers should know that not all heavy-duty trucks weighing over 10,000 pounds; some off-road vehicles and motorcycles might not qualify as lemons. Additionally, the vehicle must be in the possession of the original owner, who purchased it new in the state of Florida. Finally, the vehicle cannot be classified as a lemon if the issues in question were caused by damage from a vehicle accident, abuse, neglect, or as a result of a vehicle modification completed by a service center that was not factory authorized.
You Deserve The Best Lemon Law Lawyer in Tallahassee
If you are tired of dealing with the dealership and manufacturer because of issues with a new vehicle, please reach out to Jonathan Schwartz. As the premier Lemon Law Lawyer in Tallahassee, he will resolve the issue for you swiftly so that you can soon be driving a reliable and safe new vehicle.
Florida Lemon Law Basics
Florida’s Lemon Law, officially known as the Florida Motor Vehicle Warranty Enforcement Act, protects consumers who buy or lease new vehicles with significant defects. If a vehicle has a recurring issue that the manufacturer fails to fix after a “reasonable number” of repair attempts, the consumer may be entitled to a refund or a replacement.
Before taking legal action, consumers are required to try resolving the matter through the manufacturer’s informal dispute resolution process (usually arbitration). This involves submitting documentation and giving the manufacturer a final chance to repair the issue. If the dispute isn’t resolved in arbitration, the consumer can take the case to court.
The law covers new vehicles and some motor vehicles like RVs (but not their living facilities). Salvage vehicles and cars without warranty are not covered.
Florida’s state Lemon Law only applies to new vehicles. However, used cars can still be protected under the federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, as long as the defect is reported during the vehicle’s warranty period.
So if you buy a used car and it still has a valid manufacturer or dealer warranty, and a defect appears during that time, you may still have a case. This federal law doesn’t care whether the vehicle is new or used — it focuses on whether the warranty is active and whether the defect was properly reported.
If your vehicle qualifies and the manufacturer fails to fix the defect after multiple repair attempts, you need to:
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Step 1: Send a written notice to the manufacturer via certified or express mail.
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Step 2: Allow the manufacturer one final repair attempt.
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Step 3: If the issue persists, submit a Request for Arbitration with Florida’s Department of Legal Affairs along with supporting documents.
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Step 4: Attend arbitration. If the outcome isn’t favorable, you may file a lawsuit.
An attorney can help handle these steps and increase your chances of a successful outcome.
Yes, leased vehicles are covered under Florida’s Lemon Law — as long as the defect appears during the lease and meets the same conditions as a purchased vehicle.
However, keep in mind: if you’re leasing, your refund is limited to the amount you’ve paid into the lease. You won’t be refunded for the full vehicle value since you don’t own the car.
Hiring a Lemon Law attorney gives you a big advantage. Manufacturers have deep pockets and legal teams — going up against them alone can be difficult. An experienced attorney knows how to handle the process, file correctly, and present your case with strong documentation.
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